Resumes are so NOT fun to write.  So it’s very tempting to, once you finish it, to send the same one in to all your prospective employers.  In fact, our Bloomer, Bella, asked this very question.  Will a different cover letter suffice?  Bella also was a little worried that she quit her last job without having another in hand.

Our expert, Sue Cullen, a career and leadership coach, provided a great answer along with some other wise advice about quitting a job before you have another lined up.

One of our Bloomers asked this question about her resume and job search:

I left a great job after 11 years to go to one that I thought would be even better. It wasn't and I quit after 3 months. I've now been unemployed for 5 weeks and feel like I'm hitting a wall. I've been networking-emailing-facebooking-linkedin-all to no avail. It was probably not a smart thing to quit without having something else lined up, but I felt like my spirit was quickly dwindling right out of me. I feel good about the decision, and am actually happy amidst all the job hunting! I have lots of transferable skills. Do I need to redo my resume for each job I apply for, or could I just use it and submit a different cover letter? Thanks!

Bella P. – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

Sue Cullen, a coach and leadership coach, and Founder of Sue Cullen and Associates, provides this most excellent answer:

The short answer to your question about the resume is - yes.  Based on my experience, resumes work best when they are considered “living” documents.  So whenever possible, tailor your resume - along with a personalized cover letter - to emphasize your unique skills that will best meet the needs of each position.  For more information on what to do and not do with a resume, check out my article Writing A Resume:  What To DO - And NOT Do.    

But the first part of your question raises several issues I can’t ignore.

First, no matter how crazy the world (or your logical, left side of your brain) may tell you your decisions were, I’d like to say bravo on paying attention to your intuition.  Your previous jobs didn’t fit the way you’d like.  Better to leave before your spirit dwindled away completely.  (I see quite a few clients like that and it’s not pretty.) 

But now I’m wondering what you’re doing to help nurture your spirit and make the best possible choice in your next step.   If you haven’t done it yet, it’s time to do an honest self-assessment. Can you name your strengths and favorite interests, values, types of co-workers, working environments, goals, etc.? 

You have lots of transferable skills; but can you name your favorite ones (the ones you can’t not do?)  Those can help provide the compass to your future choices.  And remember, just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should look for a job doing it.  (I’m a pretty good driver; but I don’t want to drive a bus for a living.)

In fact, most people are unhappy in their jobs not because of what they are doing but because of what they’re not doing.  (Maybe you created excellent detailed reports in your last position; but your heart was singing to get out of the office and sell something.)  You know what it is you don’t like.  A great place to start in your situation would be to list all the things that were missing or that you didn’t like in the past.  Reverse that list into their opposites and you’re beginning to create a wish list for going forward.  Hated being watched like hawk?  You probably need more autonomy.  Travel didn’t work with your other life responsibilities?  Time to look for something that will keep you closer to home.

You made some decisions that didn’t work out.  But now you can capitalize on what you learned from them.  And you’re definitely not alone.  Most people don’t really research a company and its culture until after they get hired.  But with the benchmarks you’re seeking in hand, you can research and talk to people before you accept a position to help you choose what’s best for you. 

I don’t believe there is such a thing as a perfect job.  Every job has its plusses and minuses.  (Even Oprah admits to some downsides!)  But I do think it’s important to know what your spirit needs to flourish.  Then as you consider your options, only you can decide what you absolutely require and what you’re willing to give up.   Hopefully the list of positives will wildly outweigh the negatives.  Best of luck.  (And remember to never stop networking after you land your next gig.)

Sue Cullen, founder of Sue Cullen & Associates in Austin, inspires and empowers individuals and teams to reach their full potential through career, leadership and team development and life/work balance coaching. She also offers Every Step Matters™ workshops and retreats to help women find meaning, joy and value in every step of life!